Phonograph-record changer



Aug. 15,1939. .H. STEPHENSON 2,169,854"

PHONOGRAPH-RECORD cfiAnemi Filed March 5, 1938 4' Sheets-Sheet 1 a i Inventor: fi Hugh MfStep ens 0T1,

by J4 i Attorney.

Aug. 15, 1939. H.I,M. STEPHENSON PHONOGRAPH-RECORD CHANGER Filed March 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ihvhtor: Hug h M. Stephen son by fi His AttOTneg,

Aug. 15,1939. H. M. STEPHENSON 6 ,85

' PHONOGRAPH-RECORD cHANGER Filed March 5, 193a .4 Sheets-Shet s Fig. 5.

Inverjtor:

Stepheh son,

His Attorney.

1 H. M. STEPHENSON PHQNOGRAPH-RECORD CHANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 File d March 5, 1938 In ventoPi' Hugh M. Stephenson,

by I

Attorneg.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PHONOGRAPH-RECORD CHANGER Hugi GM. Stephenson,

Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor eneral Electric Company, a corporation oi New York Application March 5, 1938, Serial No. 194.145

15 Claims.

This invention relates to .automatic phonographs, and more particularly to a record chang- 'ing mechanism for this type of machine.

An object of my invention is to provide improved record changing mechanisms for phone-- graphs.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent and'my invention will be better understoodv from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out-with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a phonograph embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the reproducer arm support and travel stops, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the phonograph shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away, to illustrate the operating mechanism and shows the mechanism in its initial record playing position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, 4 partly insection, of the machine shown inFigs. 1 and 3 with the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a phonograph embodying a modification of my invention, partly broken away to illustrate the operating mechanism, and shows the mechanism in its initial record playing position; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the machine shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the record changer operating mechanism showing theactuating arm in its maximum displacement position; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of'the operating mechanism showing the eccentrically mounted gear in its dead center position; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the operating mechanism showing the relatrically mounted gear subsequent to the completion of the record removal operation and shortly after the eccentrically mounted gear has passed its dead center position.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, I have shown an automatic phonograph having a supporting table In to which a driving motor II is .s secured by three s crews l2 and spacers I3. Thetive positions of the actuating arm and eccen-j (c1. arr-1) movement by pivot pins 20 formed on a base plate 2| which is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 22 on the hub l9.

In a phonograph having anautomatic record changer, the reproducer is arranged to be nised oif a record and returned to a position corresponding to the beginning 'of a record coincidentally with-the removal of the reproduced record from the turntable, after which the reproducer is gradually lowered so that the reproducer stylus engages the sound track grooves at the beginning of another record. In the illustrated arrangement, this coordinated action of the reproducer and the mechanism for removing a reproduced record is obtained by utilizing a single actuating or positioning mechanism which is driven with the turntable.

In order to reproduce a record 23, the reprowith it a set of three spaced-apart fingers 25, 26,

and 21, which are united by a common base 28 secured to. a pivot pin 29 pivotally mounted on the reproducer base plate 2!. A stop plate 30 extends between the fingers 25am! 26 and is secured to the underside of the reproducer arm I! by screws 3| threadedly engaging an upwardly extending flange 32 formed on an end of the stop plate 30. A spring 33. is secured to the reproducer base plate 2| and to the pivot 'pin 29, so as to bias the fingers 25, 26 and 21 in a down-' ward direction. The finger 21 extends downwardly from the two fingers 25 and 26, and is supported by a roller 34, which is rotatably secured to a projection 35 formed on the under edge of the finger 21. The roller 34 is arranged to roll on a track formed by a track arm 36 pivotally secured at one end by a screw 31 to the supportingtable l0 and pivotally supported by a. pair of downwardly extending flanges 38 arranged on each side of the track arm 36 adjacent the screw 2|. These flanges 38 have curved under edges resting on the supporting table ill to provide for.vertical swinging of the track arm 36. The other end of the track arm is free and has a portion 39 which extends down at an acute angle to the plane of the major portion of the track arm 36 and terminates in another portion 40 which extends outwardly in substantially the same direction as the plane of the major portion of the arm 36. This free end of the track arm is supported by a roller 4| which is rotatably securedby a pin 42 to an end of a pivoted actuating arm 43. When the phonograph is inoperative or during reproduction of a record, this end at the track arm 36 extends below the upper surface of the supporting table 9 through an opening 44 formed therein. A longitudinallyextending notch 45 is formed in the track arm 36. adjacent the roller supported end 39, and a spring 46 secured by a pin 41 to the supporting table I9 and to the track arm 36 through a hole 49, biases the track arm 36 against a square latching pin 49 secured to an end of the actuating arm 43. During reproduction of a record, or when the phonograph is stopped, the latching pin 49 is arranged in engagement with an end of the notch 45, and a spring 59, secured by a pin 5| to the supporting table 9 and to the actuating arm 43 through a triangular plate 52 rigidly secured thereto by rivets 53, biases the pivoted actuating arm 43 and the latching pin in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, into latching engagement with the end of the notch 45 in the track arm 36. In order to unlatch the end of the actuating arm, the track arm 36 is pivoted so as to move the notch 45 away from the latching pin 49. During reproduction of a record, it is desirable that the actuating arm remain latched, and upon completion of a reproduction,

that it should be automatically unlatched. In order to automatically unlatch the actuating arm 43 upon completion of a record, the notch 45 'in the track arm 36 is automatically pivoted out of engagement with the latching pin 49 by a cam arm 54 which is pivotally secured at one end thereof by a screw 55 to the supporting table "l9 and is provided with a V-notch cam surface 56 at the other end thereof which engages a downwardly extending pin 51 secured to the track arm 36. The cam arm 54 is provided with an upwardly extending boss 58 having a series of ratchet grooves 59 formed on the upper surface thereof. The outer end of the finger 21 on the reproducer extends downwardly and is provided with a thin edge 69 which is arranged to engage the ratchet grooves 59 on the cam arm boss 59 when the reproducer I8 is pivoted to a position nearthe turntable spindle 14. When a record is played and is completed, this thin edge 69 of the finger 21 passes over the ratchet grooves 59, which permit the sharp edge 69 to move toward the pin 5901:, but any return movement of the sharp edge 69' will operate the cam 56. Thus, if the reproducer l8 oscillates before the finger 21 strikes the pin 59a, which serves as a limit stop to prevent the reproducer from crossing the record center, the ratchet will actuate the cam is and unlatch the pin 49 by pivoting the cam arm 54, which oscillates the pin 51 and transfers this movement to the track arm 36. This produces a pivotal and upward movement of the track arm which unlatches the latch pin 49 of the actuating arm 43. The pivotally secured end 6| of the track arm 36 extends up-' wardly and provides a handle for manually pivoting the track arm to manually unlatch the actuating arm 43 when desired. When the outer end of the actuating arm 43 is moved in a Counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, it causes the downwardly extending portion 39 of the track arm to move in an upward direction as the roller 4| rolls under the portion 39 to the position shown in Fig. 1. This causes the free end of the track arm 36 to swing in an upward direction about the pivot pin 31 and the curved flanges 38, and carries the pin 51in an upward direction to the position shown in Fig. 1'."

The lower end of the pin 51 is secured to a dash pot operating arm 62 which is pivotally secured at one end by a bolt and nut 63 to the supporting table II! and is biased in a downward direction by a spring 64. The opposite and free end 65 of the dash pot operating arm 62 extends below an extension of a piston 66 which is slidable within a dash pot cylinder 61. If the pin 51 is raised by the track arm 36, .it raises the free end 65 of the operating arm 62 and raises the dash pot piston 66. This moves a piston rod 68 upwardly through a supporting bearing 69 and raises a stop 19, which is secured to and movable with the upper end of the piston rod 68, coincidental with the operation of the dash pot. The finger 21 whichis supported by the roller 34 on the also pivoting upwardly the finger 26, so that the outer end thereof is raised and slides along the lower surface of the stop plate 39, thereby raising it and the reproducer. If the reproducer is in a position near the center of the turntable corresponding to the end of a record, the roller 34 supporting the finger 21 will roll toward the lower end of the inclined track arm; that is, towards the screw 31. thereby laterally pivoting the reproducer in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, until a downwardly extending stop 1| secured to the stop plate 39 engages the stop 19 on the dash pot piston pin 68; as shown in Fig. 2. The dash pot stop 19 is constructed so that when the track arm 36 is raised, the top of the stop 19 is closely adjacent the underside of the outer end of the stop plate 39 which extends over the top of the piston pin in this position, and is raised to a position closely adjacent and extending over a bufier pad 12 secured to the upper end of the piston rod 69, A clockwise rotation, of the actuating arm 43, as. viewed in Fig. 1, carries the roller 4| under the downwardly extending portion 39 of the track arm 36, and allows the track arm to swing downwardly away from the roller 34 supporting the finger 21, and lowers the outer end 65 of the dash pot operating arm 62 downwardly away from the end of the dash pot piston 66. This causes the outer end of the stop plate 39 to rest on the buffer pad 12 on top of the piston rod 68, and the weight of the reproducer thereon causes the dash pot piston 66 to gradually move toward the lower end of the dash pot cylinder 61, thereby gradually lowering the reproducer until the stylus 24 again engages the beginning of a record 23. In order to'provide for lowering the reproducer at the beginning of different size records, the stop 1| is pivotally secured-to the stop plate 39 by a pivotal support Na, and by varying the relative' position of the stop 1| with respect to the outer edge of the reproducer arm H by pivoting it on the support 1|a, the outermost position of the reproducer may be adjusted as desired.

A record changing or discharge mechanism is arranged to be operated by the actuating arm 43 through the triangular plate 52 and includes a laterally swinging lifter arm 13 which is pivotally mounted for vertical movement'by a pivot l arm I3 and is arranged to guide the lifter arm along the edge of a stack of records on the turntable, so that as a lifter finger 18 engages the edge of the records, it will be just under the underside of the uppermost record. The lifter finger I8 is pivotally secured to the lifter arm I3 by a pivot pin I9 and a spring 80 biases the outer curved end 8| of the lifter finger I8 toward the curved portion II of the lifter arm I3. The lifter arm is arranged so that it cannot pivot downwardly below a point where the lifter finger I8 is above the top of a single record on the turntable. This insures that the last record will not be automatically removed, and the reproducer will be lowered tothe turntable and will continue to play and replay the last record until the machine is stopped. 'In order to accommodate the lifter arm to different size records, the mounting plate I6 is slidably secured at one end 82 by a pin 83 extending through a slot 84 in the supporting table I0, and the other end 85 is secured by a pin 86 eccentrically mounted on a rotatable plate 81 and extends through an arcuate slot 88 formed in the supporting table I0. An operating handle 89 is provided. for rotating the rotatable plate 81. Rotation of the rotatable plate 81 carries the mounting plate I6 and the lifter arm I3 toward'or away-from the center of the turntable, thereby moving the lifter arm I3 and the lifter finger I8 toward oraway from the edge of a record. This arrangement provides for 'adjustment for use with various size records. In order to remove a record from the turntable,

the lifter arm I3 is pivoted laterally by a crank spring I09 is secured by the pin 5| to the supporting table I0 and to the cam I02 through a 90,-which is rigidly secured tothe pivotal supporting shaft I5. The crank 90 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 9I' to a link 92, which is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 93 to the triangular plate 52. Rotation of the actuating arm'43 produces a relatively longer travel of the end of the triangular plate 52 to which the link 92 is secured, and this movement is transmitted through the link 92 to the crank 90 and thence to the pivoted supporting shaft I5 and to the lifter arm I3. If the lifter arm I3 is .rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, a projecting flange 94 formed on one side of the pivoted end of the lifter arm I3 engages a pin 95 rigidly secured to the mounting plate I6, thereby causing the lifter arm to pivot vertically about the pivot pin I4. This producesa combined lateral and vertical pivotal movement of the lifter arm I3 in a clockwise and upward direction. A reverse move-- ment of the crank 90 when the lifter arm is in raised position results in a. counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, and downward pivotal movement of the lifter arm I3.

The actuating arm 43 is arranged to swing or pivot about a pivot pin 96 secured to the supsequential operation of the actuating arm 43, I.

provide a driving pinion gear 91 secured to the motor drive shaft I4 providing an integral structure therewith and driven thereby to rotate with the turntable I5, and a second gear 98 is rotatably and eccentrically supported by a pivot pin- 99 on one end of a supportingplate I00 rigidly secured by screws IM to the actuating arm 43. A cam I02 is pivotally supported" by a pin I03 on the opposite end of the supporting plate I00,

with'the driving gear 91.

and a tension spring I04 is secured to the cam pivot pin I03 and to a pin I05 on the eccentricallysupported .gear 98 so as to bias the gear 98 toward the cam- I02. When a record is being reproduced, the actuating arm 43 must be stationary and the gears 91 and 98 must, therefore, be disengaged. As explained above, the

, actuating arm 43 is normally latched unless the track arm 36 is pivoted by the reproducer operated cam 54 to disengage the pin 49 from the latch 45. A stationary stop I06 is secured by a screw I 01 to the supporting table I0, and the spring I04 biases the gear 98 toward the cam I02 and against the stationary stop I06 during reproduction of a record, and this'maintains the gears 91 and 98 in disengaged relation as shown in Fig. 3. A guide pin is secured to one of the screws IOI and arranged on the underside of the actuating arm 43 and extends through an armate slot I08 formed in the supporting table I0 to assist in properly guiding the actuating arm in its pivotal movements. When the latching pin 49 is unlatched, the spring biases the actuat ing' arm 43 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby moving the eccentrically mounted gear 98 into meshing engagement As viewed in Fig. 1, clockwise rotation of the driving gear 911 with the gears in mesh causes the-eccentrically mounthole H0 and is arranged to bias the actuating arm 43 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. and to cooperate with the spring I04 to bias the eccentricallymounted gear 98 into engagement with the driving gear 91 by biasing the eccentric pivot pin, and therefore, the eccentrically mounted gear 98 in a counter-clockwise direction about the actuating arm pivotpin 96. Further counter-clockwise rotation of the eccentrically mounted gear produces a clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 1, of the actuating arm 43, and the springs I04 and I09 bias the gears 91 and 98 into engagement until the spring pin I05, the eccentric pivot pin 99, and the cam pivot pin I03 are in a straight line, with the eccentric pivot pin 99 between the cam pivot pin I03 and the spring pin I05. This is the deadcenter position of the eccentrically mounted gear 98, and corresponds to the position of the record [changing mechanism after the completion of removal of a record from the turntable. Further counter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 1,

of the gear 98 moves the spring pin I05 on the side of the eccentric pivot pin 99 away from the .driving gear 91, so that the spring I04 biases the eccentrically mounted gear 98 away from the driving gear 91 and turns the eccentrically mounted gear 98 in a counter-clockwise direction. An upwardly extending stop pin III is secured to the eccentrically mounted gear 98 and is arranged to cooperate with the cam I02 toreduce and limit the impact of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 on the stationary stop I06 produced. by the counter-clockwise rotation of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 and the clock- Wise pivoting ofthe actuating arm 43. Counterof the cam to release the stop pin III and perthis clockwise rotation of the cam I02, at the instant the eccentrically mounted gear 98 passes dead center, is suflicient to prevent the rotation mit the eccentrically mounted gear 98 to rotate under the biasing force of the spring I04. When the gear 98 has cleared the driving gear 91 during the return portion, of the operating cycle, the spring I 09 has shortened sufliciently to reduce the tension to a value which will allow the release of the stop pin I II and allow the gear 98 to rotate clockwise until it comes to rest against the stationary stop I 06.

When it is desired to reproduce a record on the phonograph, a plurality of. records 23 is placed on the turntable I5 with'the center pin openings in the records over the turntable center'pin I4, and the reproducer I8 is placed on the outer edge at the beginning of the uppermost record.

The driving motor II is then energized to rotate the turntable I5. As the record is reproduced, the stylus 24 pivots the reproducer I8 towards the center of the record 23, and when the record is finished, enters the spiral lead-in groove H3 and then oscillates the reproducer as the stylus 24 travels over an eccentric cent-er groove II4. This oscillation of the reproducer causes the pointed end 60. of the finger 21 to travel over the grooves 59 of the cam arm 54, until the end of the finger 21 engages the stop 59a and transfers the oscillatory movement of the reproducer arm I8 to the V-notch cam 56' and causes the track arm 36 to pivot and 'unlatch the latching pin 49 from the end of the notch 45, thereby engagingthe gears Bland 98 as described above. The gear 91 is driven in clockwise direction, and the gear 98 therefore rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and pivots the actuating arm 43 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, during the first portion of the operating cycle. This counter-clockwise pivoting of the actuating arm 43 causes the end 39 of the track arm 36 to pivot upwardly and raises the roller 34 on the finger 21, and thereby raises the reproducer I8 off the end of the record 23. The roller 34 then rolls in a counter-clockwise direction and returns the reproducer I8 to a position corresponding with the beginning of the record.

Coincidentally with this operation, the triangular plate 52 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction; as viewed in Fig. 1, by the actuating arm 43 and rotates the lifter arm 13 in a clockwise direction, so that the projecting flange 94 engages the pin 95 and produces an upward pivoting of the lifter arm 13. Thus, the lifter arm 13 pivots in a clockwise and upward direction until the lifter finger 18 engages the underside of a record, and further clockwise and'upward pivoting of the lifter arm 13 causes the edge of the record to become wedged between the outer end 8| of the lifter finger 18 and lifter arm 13 and tilts the, record, so that the center pin hole in the record is raised off the center pin I4. As the turntable continues to rotate, the edge of the record opposite the lifter arm, which is still in engagement with the upper side of the next record below the one which is being removed from the turntable, is pivoted in a clockwise direction about the record edge which is clamped by the lifter arm 13. This causes the record which has been raised by the litter arm to slowly slide off the top of the stack of records and the turntable and then to become disengaged from the lifter arm 13. A separate compartment may be provided on the side of the supporting table I for receiving records which are removed from the turntable I after reproduction. The faregoing operations occur from the time of the engagement of the gears until the eccentrically supported gear 98 has rotated in a counterclockwise direction, so that the point of engagement of the gears is diametrically opposite the eccentric pivot pin 99, as shown in Fig. 1. Further counter-clockwise rotation of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 produces a clockwise rotation of the actuating lever 43 and pivots the lifter arm 13 in a cbunter-clockwise and down- Ward direction and returns it to its inactive or latched position, as has been explained above. Coincidentallywith this operation, the track arm 36 is swung in a downward direction as the roller 4I rolls under the angularly extending portion 39 of the track arm 35 and thereby releases the dash pot piston 66, permitting the weight of the reproducer I8 to lower the piston 86 and again place the reproducer stylus 24 on the beginning of a record. As the eccentrically mounted gear 98 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and the spring pin I05 passes its dead center position, the spring I04 biases the eccentrically mounted gear out of engagement with the driving gear 91 and further rotates the eccentrically mounted gear in a counter-clockwise direction. The spring I09 biases the actuating arm 43 in a clockwise direction and the two springs I04 and I09 cooperate to return the eccentrically mounted .gear in its .inoperative position in engagement to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, I have shown a modified eccentric gear driving arrangement somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and corresponding elements have been given the same reference numerals. In this construction, a record turntable I5 is provided .with a hub I I5 extending through an opening H6 in a'supporting table I0. The lower end of the hub I15 is formed with a groove II1 arranged in engagement with an upstanding clutch flange II8 formed on a clutch ring II9 which is secured to a motor drive shaft I4 for rotation therewith.

In order to reproduce a record 23, the reproducer I8 is pivotally supported on a hub I9 and is placed on the grooves near the beginning of the record, and a reproducer stylus, suitably connected to any desired amplifier, engages the sound track grooves of the record. As the record 23 isreproduced, the stylus guides the reproducer I8 toward the center of the record and swings it in a horizontal direction. During this movement the reproducer arm- I1 is supported on a track formed by a track arm 36 pivotally secured at one end by a screw to the supporting table I0 and pivotally supported by a pair of curved downwardly extending flanges 38, arranged on g each side of the track arm 36 adjacent the screw onthe supporting table I to provide for vertical swinging-of the track arm 36. when the phonograph is inoperative, or during reproduction of a record, the other end 39 of the track arm 36 extends below the upper surface of the supporting table I0 through an opening 44 formed therein. \'A longitudinally extending notch 45 is formed in the track arm 36 adjacent the end 39, and a spring 46, secured by a pin v41 to the supporting table I0 and to the track arm 36 through a hole 48, biases the track arm 36 against a square latching pin 49 secured to an endof an'actuating arm 43. During these periods, the latching pin 49 is arranged in engagement with an end of a notch 45 formed in the track arm 36.

. Springs 50 and I09, secured by a pin I to the supporting table I0 and to the actuating arm 43 through a triangular plate 52 rigidly secured in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in thereto by a rivet 53 and a bolt I22, bias the pivoted actuating arm 43 and the latching pin 49 Fig. 5, into latching engagement with the end of the notch 45 in the track arm 36. In order to unlatch the end of the actuating arm 43, the track arm 36 is pivoted so as to move the notch 45 away from the latching pin 49. During reproduction of a record, it is desirable that the actuating arm remain latched, and upon completion of a reproduction that it should be automatically unlatched. In order to automatically unlatch the actuating arm 43 upon completion of a record, the notch 45 inthe track arm 36 is automatically pivoted out of engagement with the latching pin 49 by a cam arm 54 which is pivotally secured at one end thereof by a screw 55 t0 the supporting table I0 and is provided with a cam surface at the other end thereof arranged to unlatch the pin 49. Theoperation and construction of this mechanism is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and operates the cam 54 and the track 36 through ratchet grooves 59. As explained above, this unlatches the pin 49 and returns the reproducer to the starting position.

A record changing mechanism is arranged to I pivot about apivot pin bolt 96 secured to the supporting table I0, and is arranged to operate the raisingof ,Jthe reproducer I9 and returning it from the end to the beginning of a record, and coincidentally to operate the mechanism for removing a record from the turntable af-ter reproduction thereof; In order to obtain the proper sequential operation of the actuating arm 43, I

provide a driving pinion gear 91 secured to the motor drive shaft I4 providing an integral structure therewith and driven thereby to rotate with the turntable I5, and a second gear 98 is rotatable and .eccentrically supported by a pivot pin 99 on one end of a supporting plate I00 rigidly secured by the bolts I22 and 96 to the actuating arm 43. A tension spring I04 is secured to a pin I03 onthesupporting plate I00 away from the pivot pin 99 toward the pivot bolt 96 and to ,a pin I05 on the eccentrically supported-gear 98,

and 98 are, therefore, disengaged. As explained above, the actuating arm 43 is normally latched, unless the track arm 36 is pivoted by the reproducer operated cam 54 to disengage the pin 49 from the latch 45. A resilient stationary stop I06 is secured by a screw I01 to the supporting table I0, and the spring I04 biases the gear 98 toward the pivot bolt 96 and against the stationary stop I06 during reproduction of a record. This maintains the gears 91 and 90V in disengaged relation, as shown in Fig. 5. To provide for easy removal of the turntable I5, I arrange the supporting plate I00 and the associated driving and guiding face of the supporting table I0, and the bolt I22 extends through an arcuate slot I08 formed in the supporting table I0 to assist. in properly guiding the actuating arm 43 in its pivotal .movements. A guiding arm I23is slidably and pivotally secured to the supporting table I0 by a screw I24 threadedly engaged in an opening in the supporting table' I0 and loosely extending through a longitudinally extending slot I25 in one end of the guiding arm I23. A spacing block I26 extends about the screw I24 and is arranged between the upper surface oi. the guiding arm I23 and the underside of the supporting table I0, and a washer I21, arranged about the screw I24, is biased against the under side of the guiding arm I23 by a coil spring I28 for supporting the guiding arm I23 in position. An angular and longitudinally extending slot I29 is formed in the other end of the guiding arm I 23 and extends about the spring pin I05 to aid in guiding the movements of the eccentrically mounted gear 98.

Upon completion of a record reproduction, the latching pin 49 is unlatched, and the spring 50 biases the actuating arm 43 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, thereby moving the'eccentrically mounted gear 98 into meshing engagement with the driving gear 91, As viewed in Fig. 5, clockwise rotation of the driving gear 91 with the gears in mesh causes the eccen .trically mounted gear 98 to rotate counter-clockwise and to carry the eccentric pivot pin 99 and the actuating arm 43 in a counter-clockwise direction until the point of engagement of the gears is diametrically opposite the eccentric pivot pin 99 as shown in Fig. 7. The spring I09 is arranged to bias the actuating arm 43 me. clockwise direction, as viewedin Figs. 5, 7, 8,- and 9, and to cooperate with the spring I04 to bias the eccentrically mounted gear 98 ,into engagement with the driving gear 91 by biasing the eccentric pivot pin 99, and, therefore the eccentrically mounted gear 98, in a counter-clockwise direction about the actuating arm pivot pin 96. I Further counter-clockwise rotation of the eccentrically mounted gear produces a clockwise rotation of the actuating arm 43, and the springs I04 and I09 bias the gears 91 and 98 into'engagement, and the spring pin I 05 slides in the slot I29 toward the end .of the guide arm I23. When the spring pin I05 reaches the outer end of vthe longitudinally extending portion of the slot I 29, further rotation of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 carries the pin I05 along the angularly extending portion I30 of the slot I29 and slides e guide arm I23-longitudinally until the screw I24 engages the outer end of the slot I25. This mo-- tion continues until the spring pin I05, the cocentric pivot pin 99,- and the spring pin I03 are in a straight line, with the eccentric pivot pin 99 between the spring pins I03 and I05, as shown in Fig. 8. This is the dead center position of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 and corresponds to the position of the record changing mechanism after completion of the operation of removing a record from the turntable. Further coun ter-clockwise rotation of the gear98 moves the spring pin I05 on the side of the eccentric pivot pin 99 away from the driving gear 91, as viewed in Fig. 8, so that the spring I04 biases the eocentrically mounted gear 98 away from the driving gear 91 and turns the eccentrically mounted gear 98 in a counter-clockwise direction. Further movement of the eccentrically mounted gear 98 causes it to unmesh from the driving gear 91, and the guiding arm I23 is then slid longitudinally by the tension of the spring I04 acting through the pin I05 on the outer end of the slot I30 until the screw pl 24 engages the inner end of the longitudinally extending slot I25. As shown in Fig. 9,

this movement turns the eccentrically mounted gear 98 in a counter-clockwise direction and guides it back to its reset position out of engagement with the driving gear 91. As the eccentrically mounted gear turns counter-clockwise and .the supporting plate I00. turns clockwise, a cam I3I,'formed as a projection on the end of the guiding arm I23, engages the spring pin I03, and the tension of the spring I04 turns the gear 98, so that the spring pin I05 slides to the inner end of the angular portion I30 of the slot in the arm I23. The eccentric gear 98, the supporting plate I00, and the actuating arm 43 continue to turn or pivot under t'hebiasing force of the springs I04 and I09, until the eccentrically mounted gear again comes'to rest in engagement with the resilient stop I06. The operation of the reproducer and the record lifting mechanisms in this construction is the same in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and this modification provides a more positive guiding of the eccentric gear and facilitates removal of the turntable from the driving mechanism.

While I have illustrated and described particular embodiments of my invention, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. I

desire it to be understood, therefore, that my in-y vention is not to be limited to the particular arrangements disclosed, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means including a support rotatably supporting said second gear by said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of a record for pivotally actuating said arm, means for resiliently biasing said second gear about its support on said arm to saidengaged and disengaged positions during said operations of the phonograph, means responsive to actuation of said pivoted arm. for removing a record from said turntable, and means responsive to the actuation of said pivoted arm by said gears for returning said reproducer from the end to the beginning ot a record.

2. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means including a support for eccentrically and rotatably supporting said sec- 0nd gear by said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of the reproduction of a record, means for resiliently biasing said second gear about its eccentric support on said arm to said engaged and disengaged positions during said operations of the phonograph, means responsive to actuation of said pivoted arm for removing a record from said turntable, and a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm and controlled thereby for raising said reproducer from a record and returning it to the beginning thereof.

3. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means for supporting said second gear eccentrically and rotatably on said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion .of a reproduction forpivotally actuating said arm by the rotation of said gears,

means for resiliently biasing said second gear about said eccentric support on said arm to said engaged and disengaged positions, and a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm and controlled thereby for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm by said gears.

4. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm,

a second gear, means for supporting said second gear eccentrically and rotatably on said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of a record for pivotally actuating said arm, means for resiliently biasing said second gear about said eccentric support on said arm to said engaged and disengaged positions, and means responsive to the actuation of said pivoted arm for returning said reproducer from the end to the beginning of a record and for removing a record from the turntable.

5. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a,reproducer, a driving gear. a pivoted arm, a second gear, means for supporting said second gear rotatably on said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of a record for pivotally actuating said arm, means for resiliently biasing said second gear about said rotatable support on said arm to said engaged and disengaged positions, means responsive to the actuation of said pivoted arm by said gears for returning said reproducer from the end to the beginning of a record and for coincidentally removing a record from said turntable, and means for biasing said gears into disengaged position and for returning said second gear to an inactive position.

6. In a phonograph having a. record turntable and a reproducer, a drivinggear, a pivoted arm, a second gear. means for supporting said second gear, eccentrically and rotatably on said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during the operation of reproducing of a record, means for moving said second gear into engagement with said-first-mentioned gear upon completion of the reproduction for pivotally actuating said arm by the rotation of said gears, means for resiliently biasing said second gear about said eccentric support on said arm to said engaged and disengaged positions during said operations of the phonograph, a mechanism. associated with said pivoted arm and controlled thereby for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm, means for disengaging said gears after removal of a record, and

means for returning said mechanism and said gears, a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm after reproduction of a record, and means arranged to cooperate with said resilient biasing means to disengage said gears after removal of a record from the turntable and for biasing said mechanism and said second gear to an inactive position upon disengagement of said gears.

8. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means for eccentrically and r'otatably supporting said second gear on said pivoted arm, means for resiliently biasing said second gear to an out of engagement position with said first-mentioned gear during reproduction of a record and for resiliently biasing said second gear to engaged position with said first mentioned gear upon the completion of the reproduction to pivotally actuate said arm by the rotation of said gears, a mechanism responsive ,to the actuation of said pivoted arm. by said gears for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm, after reproduction of a record, means for raising said reproducer from a record and returning it to the beginning'of a record coincidental with the removal of a record from said turntable, and means for biasing said gears into disengaged position and for returning said mechanism and said second gear to an inactive position.

a 9. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means for rotatably supporting said secondgear on said pivoted arm, means for resiliently biasing said second gear to an out of engagement position with said first-mentioned gear during reproduction of a record, means arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said second gear to engaged position with said firstmentioned gear upon completion of the reproduction to pivotally actuate said arm by the rotation of said gears in engagement, a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm for removing a record fromsaid turntable upon actuation of said arm after reproduction of a record, and means for resiliently biasing said pivoted arm to an inactive position and arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned and second resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear over a portion of the operative cycle of actuation of said pivoted arm, said first-mentioned and third-mentioned resilient biasing means being arranged to cooperate to disengage said gears after removal of a record from the turntable and to bias said mechanism and said second gear to an inactive position upon disengagement of said gears.

10. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear driven with said turntable, a pivoted arm, a second gear,,m.eans for eccentrically and rotatably supporting said second gear on said pivoted arm, a cam rotatably supported on said pivoted arm, a stationary stop,

means including a spring secured to said cam and to said second gear for biasing said second gear against said stop and out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during reproduction of a record, means including said first-mentioned spring and a second spring for biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of the reproduction to pivotally actuate said arm by the rotation of said gears, a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm after reproduction of a record, means including a third spring for biasing said cam and said pivoted arm to an inactive position and arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned spring and second spring for biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear over a portion of the operative cycle of actuation of said pivoted arm,

said first-mentioned and third springs being arranged to cooperate to disengage said gears after removal of a record from the turntable by said mechanism and to bias said mechanism and said second gear to an inactive position upon disengagement of said gears, and means including a stop on said second gear arranged to cooperate with said cam for controlling the clearance of the disengaged gears during the return portion of the operating cycle of said second gear to an inactive position against said stationary stop.

11. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, means including a second gear eccentrically and rotatably supported by said pivoted arm out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear during reproduction of a record and movable into engagement therewith upon completion of a reproduction for pivotally actuating said arm by the rotation of said gears; a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm. and controlled thereby for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm by said gears, means for disengaging said gears on completion of the record removal operation of said mechanism, and means including a guide for guiding said eccentrically supported gear out of engagement with said driving gear to inactive position upon said disengagement thereof, 12. In a phonograph having a rec" turntable and a reproducer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm t a second gear, means for rotatably supporting said second gear on' said pivoted arm, a stop, means for resiliently biasing said second gear out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear into inactive position against said stop during reproduction 'of a record, means arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear upon completion of the reproduction to pivotally actuate said arm by the rotation of said gears, a mechanism associated with said pivoted arm for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm after reproduction of a record, means for resiliently biasing said pivoted arm to an inactive position and arranged to cooperate with said first-mentioned and second resilient biasing means for resiliently biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear over a portion of the operative cycle of actuation of said pivoted arm, a guiding arm, means for pivotally and slidably supporting said guiding arm, means utilizing said guiding arm and said first-mentioned and third-mentioned resilient biasing means for disengaging said gears after removal of a record from the turntable and for guiding and biasing said mechanism and said second gear to an inactive'position upon disengagement of said gears.

13. In a phonograph having a record turntable and a reprclucer, a driving gear, a pivoted arm, a second gear, means for eccentrically and rotatably supporting said second gear on said pivoted arm, a-stationary stop, means including a spring secured to said arm and to said second gear for biasing said second gear against said stop and out of engagement with said first-mentioned gear nism associated with said pivoted arm for removing a record from said turntable upon actuation of said arm after reproduction of a record, means including a third spring for biasing said pivoted arm to an inactive position and arranged to cooperate withsaid first-mentioned spring and second spring ior biasing said second gear into engagement with said first-mentioned gear over a portion of the operative cycle of actuation of said pivoted arm, said first-mentioned and third springs being arranged to cooperate to disengage said gears after therecord removal operation of said mechanism and to bias said mechanism and said second gear to inactive position upon disengagement of said gears, and means including a pivoted guiding arm for guiding said second gear out of engagement with said driving gear during the return portion of the operating cycle of said second gear to inactive position against said stationary stop.

14. In a phonograph mechanism of the type comprising a record discharge mechanism and a tone arm positioning mechanism, means foractuating the record discharge mechanism comprising a movable element operably connected to the record discharge mechanism and the tone arm positioning mechanism, a pinion integral with the drive shaft of the phonograph mechanism,

gear means associated with the movable element to actuate said element, the gear means being 'movable into and out of a path to effect engagement with said pinion, means for maintaining said gear means in engagement with said pinion, and means moving said gear means into a disengaged path after said element has been actuated a predetermined amount.

' 15. In a phonograph mechanism of the type comprising a record changing mechanism. and a tone arm positioning mechanism, means for actuating said record changing mechanism comprising a movable element operably connected to said record changing mechanism and said tone arm positioning mechanism, gear means on the drive shaft of said phonograph mechanism, other gear means associated with said movable element as disengaged path after said element has been actuated a predetermined amount.

HUGH M. STEPHENSON. 

